Domo (NHK): Difference between revisions

[[File:NHK あなたとともに 公共放送 乗降中 (4122368386).jpg|thumb|Domo (middle) and friends on a bus advertisement for NHK]]

{{Nihongo|'''Domo'''|どーも くん|Dōmo-[[Japanese honorifics|kun]]}} is the official [[mascot]] of [[Japan]]'s [[public broadcaster]] [[NHK]], appearing in several 30-second [[stop-motion]] [[Interstitial program|interstitial sketches]], which are shown as [[station identification]] in between the channel's [[Television programming|programming]]. The character is a furry monster that is boxy and brown and often has his big mouth duringwide showsopen.

==DOMOOrigin==

Domo-kun first appeared in short stop-motion sketches on December 22, 1998, to mark the 10th anniversary of NHK's satellite broadcasting.

[[Tsuneo Gōda]], directsa stop motion animator and character designer, created Domo episodesfor usingNHK in 1998 and directed a [[stop motion]] animationanimated TV series based on the character in 2008. Gōda says that, by using thisstop process,motion one can "create a work filled with feeling".<ref name="Target0">Target (2008). "Halloween Costumes." ''[[Target Corporation]]''. Retrieved on September 14, 2008 from http[https://web.archive.org/web/20190509052529/https://www.targetwalmart.com/b/ref=sc_iw_l_1/602-5034031-3604655?node=15676801{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}].</ref>

'''Domo''', the main character, is a brown, furry and [[oviparousmonster]] monster<ref name="DomoModeEnglish">Author unknown (date unknown). ''Domomode''. English page. Retrieved on February 5, 2009 from {{cite web|url=http://www.domomode.com/english.html |accessdateaccess-date=November 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203060736/http://www.domomode.com/english.html |archivedatearchive-date=December 3, 2007 |title=Domo Mode }}.</ref> with a large, sawtoothed mouth that is locked wide open. His favorite food is [[nikujaga]], a Japanese meat and potato [[stew]], and he strongly detests [[apple]]s for an unknown genetic reason. According to a [[Tokyopop]] press release of the Domo comic book, Domo "communicates [[sotto voce]] with a verve that only his friends can understand." Domo can only say his name.<ref>"[http://assets.tokyopop.com/contestrules/Domo/DomoRelease.pdf TOKYOPOP PRESENTS: YEAR OF THE DOMO]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Tokyopop]]. Retrieved on February 5, 2009. {{Dead link|date=September 2016}}</ref> Clint Bickham, the writer of the Domo comic book, said that to him Domo's expression is "a sort of cheery wonderment. Like when a kid wakes to a room full of presents on [[Christmas]] day." While Domo's face has variants, to Bickham most of his expressions have "an underlying sense of fascination."<ref name="Bickhaminterview"/> Domo is known to pass gas repeatedly when nervous or upset.<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/> He also sweats when nervous.

Domo lives in a cave with '''Mr. Usaji''',<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/><ref name="Who">"[http://domonation.com/pages/who Who?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122102928/http://domonation.com/pages/who |date=January 22, 2009 }}." ''Domo Nation''. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.</ref> known in [[Japanese language|Japanese-language]] versions as {{Nihongo|'''Usajii'''|うさじい}}, a [[portmanteau]] of the words {{Nihongo|usagi|うさぎ}}, (rabbit), and {{Nihongo|''jii''|じい}} (old man, [[grandfather|grandpa]]). Mr. Usaji is a wise old [[rabbit]] who has lived in a cave for decades, loves to watch television and drink astringent green tea.<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/> Mr. Usaji is not into any "new" materials, and does not own a [[telephone]].<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/><ref name="Who"/> In terms of fashion, Mr. Usaji focuses on materials instead of shapes. Mr. Usaji's favorite food is [[carrot]]s, and his least favorite food is "something that is meaningless."<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/>

The other main character in the shorts is a [[Polar bear]] or [[weasel]] girl named '''Tashanna'''<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/><ref name="Who"/> ({{Nihongo|'''Tā-chan'''|たーちゃん|}} in the Japanese version). Tashanna, 17 years old, is a weasel who aspires to be a fashion stylist or model in [[Tokyo]] and is always using technology (televisions, mobile phones, and cameras). In English Tashanna has a {{Nihongo|"weaselly accent"|いたちなまり|''itachi namari''}} (bear in mind weasels in Japan are not associated with underhandedness) and ends her sentences with "[[y]]"s. In the Japanese version, she ends her sentences with "chi" (ち).<ref name="DomoModeJapan">[http://www.domomode.com/japan.html Japanese page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124075401/http://www.domomode.com/japan.html |date=November 24, 2007 }}. ''Domomode''. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.</ref> She has not had a boyfriend in ten years and she is seeking a platonic boyfriend.<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/><ref name="Who"/> She has a passion for bidding in auctions, but she gives up by the end. Tashanna's favorite food is [[apricot]] and [[mint (candy)|mint]] [[tart]]s, and her least favorite food is [[sea urchin]].<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/> The Japanese name originates from the word {{Nihongo|"multichannel"|多チャンネル|''tachanneru''}} of digital broadcasting.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

The [[Fox]] Trio consists of '''Esther''' ({{Nihongo|'''Esuko'''|エスコ}}), {{Nihongo|'''Brother Fox'''|あにきち|''Aniki-chi''}}, and '''Fox Boy''' ({{Nihongo|'''Konjirō'''|コンジロー}}). Esther, the youngest member, enjoys producing [[crocodile tears]], plotting schemes, and causing havoc. Brother Fox, the eldest member, dutifully cares for his youngest siblings and feels upset when referred to as {{Nihongo|"short-legged"|短足|''tansoku''}}. Fox Boy, having a quiet demeanor, converses with Domo and Bear Boy and prefers to read.<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/><ref name="DomoModeJapan"/>

{{Nihongo|'''Hungry Bear'''|はらぺこぐま|''Harapekoguma''}}, a large and powerful [[Brown bear]], feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.<ref name="DomoModeEnglish"/>

*A [[stop motion|stop-motion]] [[children's television series]] based on the character, titled '''''[[Domo TV]]''''', was co-produced by [[Nickelodeon]] and NHK. It was first announced in 2006 and premiered in October 2008 on [[Nicktoons Network]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Domo' Shorts to Air in U.S. on Nicktoons|url=http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/domo-shorts-air-us-nicktoons|work=License! Global|date=October 27, 2008|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-date=April 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410133006/http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/domo-shorts-air-us-nicktoons|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rusak|first=Gary|title=Nicktoons puts Domo on US airwaves|url=http://kidscreen.com/2008/10/24/domo-20081024/|publisher=[[Playback (magazine)|Kidscreen]]|work=Brunico Communications|date=October 24, 2008}}</ref> It continued to air until February 2009. Later that year, Nickelodeon also aired a series of [[7-Eleven]] advertisements featuring Domo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Domo takes over 7-Eleven|url=http://www.toonbarn.com/nickelodeon/domo-takes-over-7-eleven/|work=ToonBarn|date=October 10, 2009|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-date=December 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227183807/http://www.toonbarn.com/nickelodeon/domo-takes-over-7-eleven/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Domo TV'' was released to DVD on July 1, 2009, along with every Domo commercial that had been produced to that date.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Announcing the Debut of Domo-kun's First DVD!|url=http://group.tyo.jp/files/en/news/91/pdf/090701_domoDVD.pdf|work=[[TYO Animations]]|publisher=TYO Inc.|date=July 1, 2009|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722130129/http://group.tyo.jp/files/en/news/91/pdf/090701_domoDVD.pdf|archivedatearchive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref>

*[[Tokyopop]] published an [[original English-language manga]] based on the character titled '''''Domo: The Manga''''' in the United States and Canada.<ref>[http://www.tokyopop.com/Domomanga/tp_article/2591611.html TOKYOPOP Presents: Domo the Manga] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903202726/http://www.tokyopop.com/Domomanga/tp_article/2591611.html |date=September 3, 2009 }}." [[Tokyopop]]. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.</ref> [[Clint Bickham]] created the stories and crafted the dialog; Bickham said that he did "pretty much everything short of drawing it."<ref name="Bickhaminterview">"[http://www.tokyopop.com/Domomanga/tp_article/2706603.html Interview with Domo Writer Clint Bickham] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115052726/http://www.tokyopop.com/Domomanga/tp_article/2706603.html |date=January 15, 2010 }}." [[Tokyopop]]. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.</ref> The stories were drawn by [[Priscilla Hamby]] (aka Rem), [[Lindsay Cibos]], [[Jared Hodges]], [[Sonia Leong]], [[Maximo V. Lorenzo]] (in the special 7-11 edition only) and [[Erie Horita]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookbin.com/domothemanga001.html|title=Domo: The Manga|author=Leroy Douresseaux|publisher=comicbookbin.com|date=September 6, 2009|accessdateaccess-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://quasieducational.blogspot.com/2009/10/domo-invaded-my-life.html|title=Quasi Educational: Domo Invaded My Life!|author=Jared Hodges|date=October 8, 2009|accessdateaccess-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atomicbooks.com/index.php/domo-gn.html|title=Atomic Books: Atomic Books - Domo GN : Clint Bickham / Erie Horita|publisher=atomicbooks.com|accessdateaccess-date=February 5, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707183223/http://www.atomicbooks.com/index.php/domo-gn.html|archivedatearchive-date=July 7, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Bickham decided to use a series of short stories instead of one long story to "recreate the feel of the original series," "so hopefully, reading a story from the manga will feel the same as watching an episode of the show." Bickham said that writing the stories became entertaining when he "got into the Domo mindset." The writer said that Domo's thoughts do not need to be expressed in words as they are "always very simple and innocent." Bickham added that sometimes other characters speak for him. Bickham said that the ''Domo: the Manga'' stories "are driven by situations instead of dialogue." To prepare for writing the series, Bickham watched each episode multiple times; Bickham intended to "get a feel for the characters so that the jump from stop-motion to manga would be as seamless as possible." He added that "more than anything, I had to have fun doing it. I don't think you can create a good Domo story without fun."<ref name="Bickhaminterview"/>

*In September 2015, the first music compilation based on Domo, ''Domo Loves Chiptune'', was released on iTunes, Amazon, and all major music streaming services.<ref name="Domo Loves Chiptune Promotional Video">{{cite web|title=Domo Loves Chiptune|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nwJkZTrKs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/v0nwJkZTrKs |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|work=[[YouTube]].|accessdate date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=October 19, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Everybody Loves Chiptune & So Do We">{{cite web|title=Everybody Loves Chiptune & So Do We|url=http://www.dailyrindblog.com/domo-loves-chiptune/|work=[[The Orchard (company)|The Orchard]].|accessdateaccess-date=October 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926080622/http://www.dailyrindblog.com/domo-loves-chiptune/|archive-date=September 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The compilation features top artists in the [[Chiptune]] genre such [[Anamanaguchi]] and [[Disasterpeace]]. A Domo Loves Christmas compilation was released in November 2015.

*Domo has 5 video games on the DSiWare on the Nintendo DSi Shop application for the [[Nintendo DSi]]. The 5 games are Crash-Course Domo, [[Hard-Hat Domo]], Rock-n-Roll Domo, Pro-Putt Domo and White-Water Domo.<ref name="Animemated"/> The [[Game Boy Advance]] game [[Domo-kun no Fushigi Terebi]] also features Domo-kun.<ref name="Domo-kun GBA">{{cite web|title=Domo-kun no Fushigi Terebi|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/adoj/|work=[[Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]|accessdateaccess-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> On Facebook, Domo is featured in the social game Planet Domo.<ref name="planetdomo">{{cite web|title=Planet Domo|url=https://www.facebook.com/planetdomo|work=Planet Domo application on Facebook}}</ref>

* [http://www.domonationnhk.comor.jp/domo/ Official U.S.NHK Domo website] {{in lang|ja}}

* [httphttps://wwwcotoacademy.nhk.or.jpcom/domo-japanese-meaning/ OfficialMeaning NHKof Domo website] {{jain iconlang|en}}

[[Category:InternetFictional memesmonsters]]

[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1998]]

[[Category:FictionalJapanese characters introduced in 1998mascots]]